The King's Foremost Duty: Honouring Brahmins

Verse 1 (13.68.1)

किं राज्ञः सर्वकृत्यानां गरीयः स्यात्पितामह । कुर्वन्किं कर्म नृपतिरुभौ लोकौ समश्रुते ॥

kiṃ rājñaḥ sarvakṛtyānāṃ garīyaḥ syātpitāmaha | kurvankiṃ karma nṛpatirubhau lokau samaśrute

What, grandfather, is the weightiest of all a king's duties? By doing what deed does a king win both worlds?

Verse 2 (13.68.2)

एतद्राज्ञः कृत्यतममभिषिक्तस्य भारत । ब्राह्मणानां रक्षणं च पूजा च सुखमिच्छतः ॥

etadrājñaḥ kṛtyatamamabhiṣiktasya bhārata | brāhmaṇānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ ca pūjā ca sukhamicchataḥ

This is the most essential duty of a consecrated king, O Bharata: the protection and the worship of Brahmins, if he desires happiness.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; line 1 = CE 13.33.2a. Line 2 is the CE star line 13,033.002d*0274_01 (printed after 13.33.2d; the CE's numbered text has brāhmaṇānām anuṣṭhānam atyantaṃ sukham icchatā in 2c).

Verse 3 (13.68.3)

कर्तव्यं पार्थिवेन्द्रेण तथैव भरतर्षभ । श्रोत्रियान्ब्राह्मणान्वृद्धान्नित्यमेवाभिपूजयेत् ॥

kartavyaṃ pārthivendreṇa tathaiva bharatarṣabha | śrotriyānbrāhmaṇānvṛddhānnityamevābhipūjayet

This too must be done by a ruler of the earth, O best of the Bharatas: he should always honour the learned Brahmins who are elders.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 is the CE star line 13,033.002d*0275_01 (kartavyaṃ pārthiveneha tad viddhi bharatarṣabha; here तथैव for tad viddhi); line 2 = CE 13.33.2e. Wikisource splits the CE's verse 2 (a, c, e and star lines) into the couplets 2 and 3.

Verse 4 (13.68.4)

पौरजानपदांश्चापि ब्राह्मणांश्च बहुश्रुतान् । सांत्वेन भोगदानेन नमस्कारैः सदाऽर्चयेत् ॥

paurajānapadāṃścāpi brāhmaṇāṃśca bahuśrutān | sāṃtvena bhogadānena namaskāraiḥ sadā'rcayet

He should also always honour the townspeople and the country people, and the Brahmins of wide learning, with kind words, gifts of enjoyments and salutations.

Verse 5 (13.68.5)

एतत्कृत्यतमं राज्ञो नित्यमेवोपलक्षयेत् । यथाऽऽत्मानं यथा पुत्रांस्तथैतान्प्रतिपालयेत् ॥

etatkṛtyatamaṃ rājño nityamevopalakṣayet | yathā''tmānaṃ yathā putrāṃstathaitānpratipālayet

He should always keep in mind that this is a king's most important duty: he should cherish them as he would himself and as he would his sons.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; = CE 13.33.4.

Verse 6 (13.68.6)

ये चाप्येषां पूज्यतमास्तान्दृढं प्रतिपूजयेत् । तेषु शान्तेषु तद्राष्ट्रं सर्वमेव विराजते ॥

ye cāpyeṣāṃ pūjyatamāstāndṛḍhaṃ pratipūjayet | teṣu śānteṣu tadrāṣṭraṃ sarvameva virājate

And those among them who are most worthy of honour he should honour all the more. When they are at peace, his whole kingdom shines.

Verse 7 (13.68.7)

ते पूज्यास्ते नमस्कार्या मान्यास्ते पितरो यथा । तेष्वेव यात्रा लोकानां भूतानामिव वासवे ॥

te pūjyāste namaskāryā mānyāste pitaro yathā | teṣveva yātrā lokānāṃ bhūtānāmiva vāsave

They are to be honoured, to be bowed to, to be revered as fathers are. The livelihood of the people rests on them, as that of living beings rests on Vasava.

Verse 8 (13.68.8)

अभिचारैरुपायैश्च दहेयुरपि चेतसा । निःशेषं कुपिताः कुर्युरुग्राः सत्यपराक्रमाः ॥

abhicārairupāyaiśca daheyurapi cetasā | niḥśeṣaṃ kupitāḥ kuryurugrāḥ satyaparākramāḥ

By rites of sorcery and other means, or even by will alone, they could burn. When angered, fierce and true in their power, they could leave nothing remaining.

Note on the text: Corrected निःशेपं → निःशेषं (misprint in Wikisource; ष misread as प; CE niḥśeṣaṃ).

Verse 9 (13.68.9)

नान्तमेषां प्रपश्यामि न दिशश्चाप्यपावृताः । कुपिताः समुदीक्षन्ते दावेष्वग्निशिखा इव ॥

nāntameṣāṃ prapaśyāmi na diśaścāpyapāvṛtāḥ | kupitāḥ samudīkṣante dāveṣvagniśikhā iva

I see no end to their power, nor any direction left open. When angered they glare about like tongues of flame in a forest fire.

Note on the text: Corrected दावेषअवग्निशिखा → दावेष्वग्निशिखा (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; CE dāveṣv agniśikhā).

Verse 10 (13.68.10)

मान्यास्तेषां साधवो ये न निन्द्याश्चाप्यसाधवः । बिभ्यत्येषां साहसिका गुणास्तेषामतीव हि । कूपा इव तृणच्छन्ना विशुद्धा द्यौरिवापरे ॥

mānyāsteṣāṃ sādhavo ye na nindyāścāpyasādhavaḥ | bibhyatyeṣāṃ sāhasikā guṇāsteṣāmatīva hi | kūpā iva tṛṇacchannā viśuddhā dyaurivāpare

Among them the good are to be honoured, and even the bad are not to be reviled. Even the rash fear them, for their qualities are very great. Some are like wells covered over with grass, others are pure like the sky.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote mark (`…'). Line 1 is the CE star line 13,033.010b*0276_01 (printed after 13.33.10b); lines 2-3 = CE 13.33.9 (line 2 reads बिभ्यत्येषां साहसिका where the CE has vidyan teṣāṃ sāhasikā; the commentary glosses बिभ्यति, so recension variant, kept). Wikisource places the star line first.

Verse 11 (13.68.11)

प्रसह्यकारिणः केचित्कार्पासमृदवोऽपरे । सन्ति चैषामतिशठास्तथैवान्ये तपस्विनः ॥

prasahyakāriṇaḥ kecitkārpāsamṛdavo'pare | santi caiṣāmatiśaṭhāstathaivānye tapasvinaḥ

Some act by force, others are as soft as cotton; some among them are very cunning, others are great ascetics.

Verse 12 (13.68.12)

कृषिगोरक्ष्यमप्येके भैक्ष्यमन्येऽप्यनुष्ठिताः । चोराश्चान्येऽनृताश्चान्ये तथाऽन्ये नटनर्तकाः ॥

kṛṣigorakṣyamapyeke bhaikṣyamanye'pyanuṣṭhitāḥ | corāścānye'nṛtāścānye tathā'nye naṭanartakāḥ

Some live by farming and cattle-keeping, others by begging; some are thieves, some are liars, and others are actors and dancers.

Verse 13 (13.68.13)

सर्वकर्मसहाश्चान्ये पार्थिवेष्वितरेषु च । विविधाचारयुक्ताश्च ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ ॥

sarvakarmasahāścānye pārthiveṣvitareṣu ca | vividhācārayuktāśca brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha

Others can bear every kind of work, among kings and among other men; and Brahmins, O best of the Bharatas, follow many different ways of life.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; = CE 13.33.12. Line 1 differs (Wikisource: sarvakarmasahāś cānye pārthiveṣv itareṣu ca; CE: sarvakarmasu dṛśyante praśānteṣv itareṣu ca); recension variant, kept. Line 2 = CE 12c.

Verse 14 (13.68.14)

नानाकर्मसु रक्तानां बहुकर्मोपजीविनाम् । धर्मज्ञानां सतां तेषां नित्यमेवानुकीर्तयेत् ॥

nānākarmasu raktānāṃ bahukarmopajīvinām | dharmajñānāṃ satāṃ teṣāṃ nityamevānukīrtayet

Of those good men who know dharma, though devoted to many kinds of work and living by many occupations, he should always speak with praise.

Note on the text: Corrected नित्यमवोनुकीर्तयेत् → नित्यमेवानुकीर्तयेत् (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; CE nityam evānukīrtayet).

Verse 15 (13.68.15)

पितॄणां देवतानां च मनुष्योरगरक्षसाम् । पुराऽप्येते महाभागा ब्राह्मणा वै जनाधिप ॥

pitṝṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca manuṣyoragarakṣasām | purā'pyete mahābhāgā brāhmaṇā vai janādhipa

In ancient times too, O lord of men, these Brahmins have been the exalted ones for the ancestors, the gods, humans, serpents and rakshasas.

Note on the text: Corrected देवतानं → देवतानां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā; CE devatānāṃ). Not matched by the alignment; = CE 13.33.14. Line 2 reads पुराऽप्येते महाभागा where the CE has purohitā mahābhāgā; recension variant, kept (the commentary supplies एते पूज्याः).

Verse 16 (13.68.16)

नैते देवैर्न पितृभिर्न गन्धर्वैर्न राक्षसैः । नासुरैर्न पिशाचैश्च शक्या जेतुं द्विजातयः ॥

naite devairna pitṛbhirna gandharvairna rākṣasaiḥ | nāsurairna piśācaiśca śakyā jetuṃ dvijātayaḥ

These twice-born cannot be conquered by gods, by ancestors, by gandharvas, by rakshasas, by asuras or by pishachas.

Verse 17 (13.68.17)

अदैवं दैवतं कुर्युर्दैवतं चाप्यदैवतम् । यमिच्छेयुः स राजा स्याद्यं द्विष्युः स पराभवेत् ॥

adaivaṃ daivataṃ kuryurdaivataṃ cāpyadaivatam | yamiccheyuḥ sa rājā syādyaṃ dviṣyuḥ sa parābhavet

They can make a non-god a god and a god a non-god. Whom they wish becomes king, and whom they hate falls.

Verse 18 (13.68.18)

परिवादं च ये कुर्युर्ब्राह्मणानामचेतसः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते राजन्विनश्येयुर्न संशयः ॥

parivādaṃ ca ye kuryurbrāhmaṇānāmacetasaḥ | satyaṃ bravīmi te rājanvinaśyeyurna saṃśayaḥ

Those foolish men who slander Brahmins, I tell you truly, O king, would perish beyond doubt.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 = CE 13.33.17a; line 2 is the CE star line 13,033.017b*0277_01 (satyaṃ bravīmi te rājan vinaśyeyur asaṃśayam; here विनश्येयुर्न संशयः).

Verse 19 (13.68.19)

निन्दाप्रशंसाकुशलाः कीर्त्यकीर्तिपरायणाः । परिकुप्यन्ति ते राजन्सततं द्विषतां द्विजाः ॥

nindāpraśaṃsākuśalāḥ kīrtyakīrtiparāyaṇāḥ | parikupyanti te rājansatataṃ dviṣatāṃ dvijāḥ

Skilled in blame and praise, intent on bringing fame and infamy, the twice-born, O king, are always wrathful toward those who hate them.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; = CE 13.33.17c and 17e (line 1 reads परायणाः where the CE has parāvarāḥ; the commentary glosses परायणाः हेतवः; recension variant, kept).

Verse 20 (13.68.20)

ब्राह्मणा यं प्रशंसन्ति पुरुषः स प्रवर्धते । ब्राह्मणैर्यः पराकृष्टः पराभूयात्क्षणाद्धि सः ॥

brāhmaṇā yaṃ praśaṃsanti puruṣaḥ sa pravardhate | brāhmaṇairyaḥ parākṛṣṭaḥ parābhūyātkṣaṇāddhi saḥ

The man whom Brahmins praise prospers. One who is cast down by Brahmins is brought low in an instant.

Verse 21 (13.68.21)

शका यवनकाम्भोजास्तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः । वृषलत्वं परिगता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् ॥

śakā yavanakāmbhojāstāstāḥ kṣatriyajātayaḥ | vṛṣalatvaṃ parigatā brāhmaṇānāmadarśanāt

The Shakas, Yavanas and Kambojas, and those other Kshatriya peoples, fell into the state of Vrishalas through not seeing Brahmins.

Verse 22 (13.68.22)

द्राविडाश्च कलिङ्गाश्च पुलिन्दाश्चाप्युशीनराः । कोलिसर्पा महिषकास्तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः ॥

drāviḍāśca kaliṅgāśca pulindāścāpyuśīnarāḥ | kolisarpā mahiṣakāstāstāḥ kṣatriyajātayaḥ

The Dravidas, Kalingas, Pulindas and Ushinaras, the Kolisarpas and the Mahishakas: these and those other Kshatriya peoples

Note on the text: Corrected महिपकास् → महिषकास् (misprint in Wikisource; ष misread as प; CE māhiṣakāḥ). Line 2 reads कोलिसर्पा महिषकाः where the CE has kaulāḥ sarpā māhiṣakāḥ; recension variant, kept. Line 1 reads द्राविडाः for CE dramiḷāḥ (same people).

Verse 23 (13.68.23)

वृषलत्वं परिगता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् । श्रेयान्पराजयस्तेभ्यो न जयो जयतांवर ॥

vṛṣalatvaṃ parigatā brāhmaṇānāmadarśanāt | śreyānparājayastebhyo na jayo jayatāṃvara

fell into the state of Vrishalas through not seeing Brahmins. Defeat at their hands is better than victory over them, O best of victors.

Note on the text: Corrected वृपलत्वं → वृषलत्वं (misprint in Wikisource; ष misread as प; CE vṛṣalatvaṃ).

Verse 24 (13.68.24)

यस्तु सर्वमिदं हन्याद्ब्राह्मणं च न तत्समम् । ब्रह्मवध्या महान्दोष इत्याहुः परमर्षयः ॥

yastu sarvamidaṃ hanyādbrāhmaṇaṃ ca na tatsamam | brahmavadhyā mahāndoṣa ityāhuḥ paramarṣayaḥ

One who would slay all this, and one who slays a Brahmin: the two are not alike. The killing of a Brahmin is a great fault, so the supreme sages say.

Verse 25 (13.68.25)

परिवादो द्विजातीनां न श्रोतव्यः कथञ्चन । आसीताधोमुखस्तूष्णीं समुत्थाय व्रजेत वा ॥

parivādo dvijātīnāṃ na śrotavyaḥ kathañcana | āsītādhomukhastūṣṇīṃ samutthāya vrajeta vā

Slander of the twice-born must not be listened to in any way. One should sit with face lowered and silent, or get up and leave.

Verse 26 (13.68.26)

न स जातो जनिष्यो वा पृथिव्यामिह कश्चन । यो ब्राह्मणविरोधेन सुखं जीवितुमुत्सहेत् ॥

na sa jāto janiṣyo vā pṛthivyāmiha kaścana | yo brāhmaṇavirodhena sukhaṃ jīvitumutsahet

No one has been born, nor will be born, on this earth who could hope to live happily in enmity with Brahmins.

Verse 27 (13.68.27)

दुर्ग्राह्यो मुष्टिना वायुर्दुःस्पर्शः पाणिना शशी । दुर्धरा पृथिवी मूर्ध्ना दुर्जया ब्राह्मणा भुवि ॥

durgrāhyo muṣṭinā vāyurduḥsparśaḥ pāṇinā śaśī | durdharā pṛthivī mūrdhnā durjayā brāhmaṇā bhuvi

The wind is hard to grasp in the fist, the moon hard to touch with the hand, the earth hard to bear on the head; so on earth the Brahmins are hard to conquer.